Just for test how hard to convert my Delphi 7 program to Delphi XE 5 i wrote simple application on Delphi 7 - placed TStringGrid on Form, and added code on form create:
procedure TFMain.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
With StringGrid1 do
begin
Cells[0,0]:='čęжэ€';
end;
end;
(actually it wrote as Cells[0,0]:='ce??€', but i expected that). Compile, build, run, no Unicode, of cause. Then reopened project in Delphi XE 5, changed line again to Cells[0,0]:='čęжэ€', compile, build, run - and no Unicode (got something like čę|||) ! That was strange to me. New project build from zero on Delphi Xe 5 with the same code, same TStringGrid is working as expected. I know here is some simple trick, maybe some change in project settings, but i can't google it... Maybe someone can help ?
Best regards.
The default font used by Delphi 7 is MS Sans Serif. When you use this font under Unicode Delphi, the string grid control appears not to draw text correctly with that font. Many other controls will draw your text correctly in that font. But for some reason the string grid control cannot manage to do so.
When you upgrade an old project to XE5 you inherit that Delphi 7 default. When you create a new project in XE5 the default font is different, Tahoma I think, and the string grid painting correctly shows your Cyrillic in that font.
You can work around this problem by using a different font like Tahoma or Segoe UI. You surely don't want to be using MS Sans Serif anyway. A list view in report view style would be another good option. Not least because it is the native platform control.
I must admit that I do not really understand why the string grid control is not behaving better. It would be great if somebody else could shed some light on this.